The Wahpeton times., 1887-08-25
LESTER r. SMITH, DEAD.

LESTER r. SMITH, DEAD.
The community was astounded
Tuesday afternoon to learn that l..
r. Smith Of Breckenridge had cut |
his throat while deliriOus from fever.
Mr.. Smith served through the war. |
having enlisted in the Sixteenth
Connecticut volunteers at the out.
break of the rebellion, and being |
wounded was confined in u |
hospital for nearly year, and re-
turning to the ranks suffered a sun
stroke from which he never fully re-
covered, having now for more than
twenty years had periodical head
aches. three or four yearly. On
this occasion Mr.. Smith had just re-
turned from Chicago where he had
purchased large stock of goods,
preparatory to fitting up general
store. associated with Charlie Oil
YER. but returning home ill with
fever and another return of the
sunstroke difficulty-was confined
for the most part to his room.
And inasmuch as he had said to his
wife, heretofore, that he feared he
would kill himself some time while
suffering from his old difficulty,
Mrs. Smith kept a good watch over
him. having put away Il revolver.
But Mrs. Smith being busy about
the house. on this occasion, deceased
locked the door of his room and
securing razor seems to have
slashed into his throat at two points,
making frightful wounds. His
daughter heard what she thought
was water dripping and finding the |
door locked, reported to Mrs. Smith,
who tried the door and not raising
her husband went round and look
ing in at the window saw him sitting
on chair with a razor in his hand |
and covered with blood; she then
burst open the door and winding a
towel about the razor took same |
from his hand and called assistance.
Doctors Falley and Truax were the
first physicians there, Doctor
Swaine getting there about the
time the wound was sewed up-as
we believe did Doctor Reno. But
there was little hope from the first,
life taking its departure about
eight O'Clock that evening.
After the close of the war, Mr..
Smith came west to Grant County,
Wisconsin,, and engaged in business
with Douglas Oliver in woolen
manufactory. and in 1867 married
Mr.. divers daughter. sister of Der
rett Oliver Of this city. In 1872 he
came to breckenridge where he has
been a leading citizen ever since.
being first employed in Peter Han
sons general store, and finally
opened a general store of his own,
doing big business when the Same
burned with contents, entailing u
total loss of $4,000 or $4,000. |
After this Mr.. Smith was appointed
to a wheat insrectorsIIip. at Duluth,
whicl he held for some little time,
finally returning and,a above stated,
was preparing to re-enter mer-
chandising. Although Mr.. SIN ith
has had financial misfortunes. there
is not the least suspicion among
his family and friends that these
caused the act leading TO immediate
death, as he was in first rate linan-
cial circumstances, and had hosts of |
friends.
The funeral services will be con-
Quoted Tomorrow (Friday) by the
Masonic lodges of Breckenridge and
Wahpeton, and Sumner Post. G. A.
r. of Wahpet0n. Rev. Mr.. Schram
preaching the funeral sermon. and
the remains will be laid away in
the Breckenridge cemetery.
Mr.. Smith was born ut Broad
Brook, Conn.,, November 4th, 1874,
being AZ years, 8 months and 10
days old at his death, leaving Il wife,
daughter and son to mourn the
irreparable loss. The family has the
deepest sympathy Of large circle
of friends.
The good people of Brandenburg |
or v~s,kts~p